Porsche 997

The Porsche 997 transformed Rum Bum Racing from race winners into champions, delivering back-to-back titles and cementing the team’s place in Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge history.

The Switch to Porsche

After two successful seasons with BMW, Rum Bum Racing made the bold decision to switch to Porsche for 2012. The move paid immediate dividends—the team won five of ten races and captured their first championship.

Technical Specifications

• Engine: 3.8-liter naturally aspirated flat-six
• Power: Approximately 450 horsepower
• Transmission: 6-speed sequential
• Class: Grand Sport (GS)

2012: The Breakthrough

The Porsche’s debut season was nothing short of spectacular:

• 5 victories (Barber, Homestead, Road America, Watkins Glen, Lime Rock)
• Team Championship
• Porsche Manufacturer Championship
• Led 247 laps across the season

2013: Back-to-Back

The championship defense was equally dominant:

• 3 victories (Barber, Mid-Ohio, Road America)
• Team Championship
• Driver Championship (Matt Plumb & Nick Longhi)
• Porsche Manufacturer Championship

The Porsche 997 GTS

In mid-2013, Rum Bum Racing unveiled an updated Porsche 997 GTS at Mid-Ohio, continuing to evolve the platform and stay competitive against newer machinery.

Later Years

From 2014-2016, the team continued campaigning the Porsche 997 platform, adding wins at Kansas Speedway (2014), Daytona, Road America, and VIR (2015). Despite facing newer competition from Mustangs and the Porsche Cayman GT4, the veteran 997 remained competitive through careful development.

Legacy

The Porsche 997 carried Rum Bum Racing to 15+ victories and two championships. It became synonymous with the team’s identity—the iconic No. 13 Porsche was one of the most recognizable cars in the paddock.

“The Porsche gave us the tools to become champions. We maximized every ounce of potential in that car.” — Matt Plumb